Want to turn your adventure meter up to 11?
Welcome to the former Buddhist kingdom of Upper Mustang. One of Nepal’s most exotic regions, Mustang extends northward into the Annapurna mountain range and its 7,000m (23,000ft) summits. It’s not just the altitude that will take your breath away. The vistas are the stuff of dreams.
Our 600-mile / 1000 km journey begins with an immersive sightseeing and culinary experience in the 1,000-year old city of Kathmandu. From there we head west with a stopover at the quaint Newari town of Bandipur. A gritty day of riding with the spectacular Annapurna range teasing us we now head northward towards Tatopani or "Hot Spring" village.
The snow-capped Dhaulagiri peaks welcome us into the gateway to Mustang and we turn off towards the sacred town of Muktinath, or god of salvation. The days that follow are spent riding to and exploring the Upper Mustang region and being awed by the contrasts of the terrain and its rich history.Grinning with a sense of wonder and satisfaction, we ride into the town of Pokhara for a night of celebration.
The final leg of our expedition loops us back toward Kathmandu via Nuwakot, an ancient trading route between India and Tibet. The quiet night will give us a chance to reflect upon the various facets of Nepal that this Upper Mustang Expedition is all about. Return home, enriched, amazed and transformed!
Single or double occupancy accommodations in best-class hotels in Kathmandu and en route.
Transfers to and from the airport
Your very own Royal Enfield motorcycle. Try not to fall in love with it.
All meals included. Dinners will focus on the best restaurants available at each location. We love food so we don’t mess around here.
At least two Uber-experienced, awesome guides.
All we need for tumbles, including training.
A support truck for bags, tools and parts. Are your very own under-utilised mechanic.
All permits & site entry fees
Like white water rafting
You need to get yourself to Kathmandu
For your amazing guides, driver and mechanic
Yeh, sorry. We are a for-profit enterprise.
A day to acclimatiz e, orientate and bond. We will meet as a group for a team building wander through the old city and later hold a pre-adventure briefing where all of your detailed questions will be addressed. A dinner at one of city’s best restaurants is also in the cards to celebrate the experience that is about to unfold.
The day is spent winding through the Trisuli River Gorge on the Prithvi Highway westward toward Pokhara. The damage inflicted by the brutal 2015 earthquake is still apparent in the some of the villages we pass through. We’ll spend our first night in the beautiful village of Bandipur and take in some of the stunning examples of Newari architecture.
The panoramic vistas of the Annapurna Range appear across the horizon as we navigate the primitive road that will ensure you look the part of a "Road Warrior". Post lunch we hit a stretch of smooth tarmac until our next tea stop before we resume snaking alongside the Kali Gandaki River all the way to Tatopani or “hot water”. Putting your inhibition aside, enter the communal hot spring pool to relax
and recount the day's adventure!
Besides gaining elevation, from 1000m to 3800m, today we experience riding bliss. The mountains close in on the single-lane road before presenting us with the snow-capped Dhaulagiri peaks. Winding through pinewood forest we finally enter the Mustang region with its lunar landscape and Buddhist culture. The terrain
continues to change dramatically till we reach Muktinath, considered sacred by both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. After the sublime ride, you can make the short trek up to the world's highest temple and join the pilgrims in their search for
Moksha (liberation).
Upper Mustang region was known as the forbidden kingdom and it was only in 1992 that outsiders were permitted to enter for a limited period. It is one of the most preserved regions in the world, thanks partially due to the hefty permit fee, the
harsh conditions and the high altitude. What awaits those who do enter Upper Mustang is the indescribable natural wonder all around with various shades of mountains and rock structures, snowcapped peaks in every direction and a
timeless culture of the Mustang people. Our ride ends at the the only luxury resort and after an introductory walk around the ancient town, we retire for the day with dinner around the bonfire.
Half-day exploratory ride to the 2000-3000 years old ‘Sky Caves’ (UNESCO tentative site) dug into the sides of the valleys. Climb inside these multistoried caves after which we take the long way back to our hotel.
The rest of the day is yours to spend walking the ancient streets of Lo, visit the monastery and get some downtime in one of the cafes.
A full day in the saddle awaits as you behold the endless layers of mountains below and get another grand perspective on the landscape.
Lo Manthang to Kalopani is a day of contrasts as we cover a wide range of terrain and distance. We arrive just in time to watch the sun's final rays kissing goodbye especially to the Annapurna 1 peak. At an altitude of 2530 m, Kalopani is also known for its spectacular sunrise.
With a detour to visit a nearby lake, we take the road to Pokhara, the adventure capital of Nepal, also situated on Phewa Tal, the second-largest lake in
the country.
With Fishtail (or Machhapuchhare) mountain peak as its backdrop, in Pokhara we celebrate our Upper Mustang adventure, new found friends and also the fact that we have two more days of riding left!
By now, you are one with your machine and possibly christened it a name of your choice. The ride on the highway is no longer as daunting as on the first
day. We take a turn off and head towards Nuwakot, the ancient trading post between India and Tibet. This sleepy village is the perefect space to take on
the winding road back into Kathmandu.
We arrive in Kathmandu by lunchtime at our stunning, heritage hotel and a night of celebration is on tap. A celebratory last supper to celebrate your achievements and now found friends together.
Check out at noon and our driver will whisk you off to the airport for your flights.
Based in Austin, Delhi and London, TWE offers premium motorcycle adventures through India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, Tibet and Nepal.
